Shockproof contactor and relay



A ug. l2, 1947.

W. SCHAELCHLIN ETAL SHOCK-PROOF CONTACTOR AND RELAY Filed Feb. 26, 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 A'rroRNEY Aug. 1.2, 1947. w. scHAELcHLlN ETAL 2,425,548

SHOCK-PROOF GNTACTORl AND RELAY v Filed Feb. 26, 1941. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wlTNEssEs: INVENTO Waier So/zae/c/v and ,De/Aber? EZ/z's.

l BY W. '/d -f ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOCKPROUF CUNTACTR AND RELAY tion of Pennsylvania Application February 26, 1941, Serial No. 380,662

17 oiaims. l

Our invention relates to electromagnetic switches, and more particularly to electromagnetic contacto-rs and relays subject to shocks and impacts.

With electromagnetic devices used on board naval vessels, it is important that no electric circuits are broken during gunfire and also that no electric circuits are made during gunfire. The shocks of guniire cause considerable impacts and vibrations of the ship structure and as such impacts are transmitted to the electrical apparatus and particularly the electromagnetic switches now known in the art, circuits are often caused to be made and often others are broken. This may at Jtimes be serious and dangerous.

One object of our invention is to provide electromagnetic devices that are unaffected in operation by shocks or impacts.

Another object of our invention is the provision of mounting means for electromagnetic switches that permits of relative movement between the mounting base and the electromagnet but yet prevents relative movement between the contact elements of the switches, whereby no circuits are made nor are any broken when there is relative movement between the base and electromagnet.

Sti11 other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following speciiication when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front View of an electro-magnetic contacter provided with our novel construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewvtaken on the line IIII of Fig. 3;

Fig, 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line .IV-IV oi' Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View, similar to the showing of Fig. 3, illustrating still further improvements;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of our invention shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on section line VIII-VIII of Fig. l, and shows more in detail the relative position of some elements of the contactor of Fig. 1.

The problem of protecting electric circuits and more particularly electromagnetic devices against impact on board ships, armored trains, or tanks, has long been recognized. Prior attempts to protect electromagnetic devices have provided spring mountings to thus permit free vibration of the electromagnetic devices. Such mountings, particularly since there is always some vibration on board ship, cause spring crystallization and thus a failure of the mounting. Further, such mountings permit resonant vibrations to be' set up. The evil is thus often greater than if no attempt at protecting the electromagnetic devices and .the circuits had been made.

In the drawings, reference .character I designates the base that is rigidly secured to the bulkhead of the ship through panelboard v2 vand the bolts 3. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

rhe electromagnetic device has a Iwell known generally C-shaped magnetic circuit 4 with the open portion of the C at the bottom. The armature actuating coil 5 is mounted within this mag.- netic circuit and actuates armature 6 in a vertical direction through open portion of the C. The armature inV turn through an extended lamination "i, operates the movable contact elements Y8 resiliently mounted on the bridge structure 9 rigidly secured to the lamination 'I. The details .of the switch structure are no part of our present invention and no extensive description of the details is thus thought necessary, other than to point out how the novel features coact with the old. -In operation movable contact elements 8 Contact with stationary contact elements I. When the coil 5 is energized.contactelements 8` and I0 are in engagement and when coil 5 is deenergized contact elements 8 and IU are not in engagement. The order may, of course, be reversed depending upon the relative mounting of the contact elements.

One of the important novel results to be accomplished by our invention is to maintain the contact elements in engagement or in disengagement during an impact -depending upon what position they hold at the time of the impact.

To accomplish the novel results of our invention the arc box I I, housing the stationary Contact elements I0 and also guiding-the movable contact elements 8, is rigidly secured to the base I and thus partakes of the movements of base I. This is in nowise serious since the arc box is made of relatively light insulating material and the other elements in the arc box and other parts associated with the arc box are all relatively light.

The vupper portion of the base is provided with a plurality, preferably four, of stud bolts I 2 rigidly secured to base I. A mountingvplate I3 for the magnetic circuit 4, coil 5, and movablearmature 6, is slidably mounted on the bolts I2 but is rigidly secured to magnetic circuit 4. A spring'IlI is mounted on each bolt I2 and engages with the head of the bolt and the mounting plater yI3 to thus bias the mountingplate I3 against the base I,

A pair of nat springs I6 are disposed adjacent the lower edge of the mounting plate I3 and are rigidly secured to the base I. These springs provide a slidable damping effect against the lower iront vertical surface oi plate I3, aid springs I4, and above all, provide a line pivot so that mounting plate I3 may be swung in the plane of the paper about an axis I1 normal to the plane of the paper when assembling the device. See particularly Fig. 3.

During an impact on panel 2, the relatively large mass of the coil and of the iron structure of magnetic circuit 4 and armature S, cause relative movement between base I and mounting plate I3. The relative movement will thus be very limited. Any angular movement present will be mainly in a vertical plane about axis I but some bodily displacement, except very probably a bodily ldisplacement parallel to the `plane of base I, may also take place. These movements are opposed by springs I4, and also I6 and damped out by spring I6 and to some extent by dowel pin I8. The magnetic structure and coil 5 mounted on plate I3 will thus be subject to very few vibrations relative to base I. In fact the rst cycle of vibration caused by an impact is usually the only one that may cause damaging interference with existing circuits at the time of the impact. By permitting fairly free relative movements between the high inertia portions of an electromagnetic device and the base subject to an impact, these high inertia portions are not subject to the impact. By rapidly damping the vibrations, no resonancevibrations are set up and the chance of circuit interference is limited to a short time interval.

The dowel pin I8 has a tapered free end which thus aids in repositioning the mounting plate I3 in correct relation to the are box II after each impact.

When the elements mounted on plate I3 vibrate, there will also be a tendency for all the elements mounted on armature 6, to vibrate. Since the guide clearance of armature 6 and also the guide clearance, as at points 20, 2 I, 22, etc., is chosen to be small, a binding effect will be caused at these points. For instance in Fig. 7, the position of armature 6 is shown in the position it would hold in relation to the Z-shaped member 55 when coil 5 is energized. During an impact the lower lefthand corner of armature 6 (see Fig. '7) will move to a position vertically in line with the Vertical portion 5| of member 55. The armature 6 thus does not move down. The contact elements 8 and I0, therefore, do not move appreciably relative to each other. The result is that all circuits that are in existence duringr an impact remain closed and all circuits not closed remain open during an impact.

There are further constructional features that aid in producing the novel results of our invention. When the coil 5 is deenergized armature 6 will be vdown and rest on the horizontal portion 50 and the vertical portion 5| of the Z-shaped member 55 will, since the clearance indicated by 22 is chosen to be small, thus prevent vibration of the armature and in consequence prevent the dislodgement of the movable and stationary contact elements 8 and I0.

As already briefly stated, when the coil 5 is energized the armature 6 will have its lower edge just above the horizontal portion 52 of the Z- shaped member 55. The coaction of portion 52 and the lower portion of the armature as it swings over it during an impact will thus operate like a latch for the armature and in consequence no relative vertical movement will take place between contact elements 8 and I0, to thus interfere with any circuits.

The construction is, of course, not limited to a movable mounting of the magnetic members on the base I. The construction may readily be such that the arc box III is mounted movably on the base I whereas the magnetic elements are xed on base I.

For some types of impacts, the showing in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is not quite as reliable as desired. To take care of a greater range of impacts and thus provide for more universal operation, we have devised the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In this modification, a much greater guide clearance is given the elements in the arc box I I I. The clearance at such points as |20, |2| and |22, corresponding to points 20, 2| and 22, is made greater as shown. No dependence is placed on the binding eiect at these points.

To prevent relative movement between the contact elements, we provide armature 6 with notches |23 and |24. The notches |23 cooperate with ends |25 of the latching plate |26 when the coil 5 is deenergized whereas notches |24 cooperate with the same ends of plate |26 when coil 5 is energized.

Upon occurrence of an impact, the armature 6 vibrates and the ends |25 move into the particular notches that are at the time adjacent the ends. There is thus no relative movement between the contact elements 8 and I0.

We are, of course, aware that others, particularly after having had the benefit of our teachings, may devise other and similar means for accomplishing the novel results we accomplish. We therefore, do not wish to be limited to the specific showings made but wish to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an electromagnetic device, in combination, a movable armature and a pair of stationary portions with reference to which the armature moves, an electromagnetic coil in one of the stationary portions, said movable armature being acted upon by said coil in one of the stationary portions to cause movement of the movable armature relative to the stationary portions, a base, one of the stationary portions being fixed to the base and one being movable with reference to the base upon subjecting the base to an impact, means on the stationary portion that is fixed to the base adapted to engage the movable armature upon occurrence of an impact on the base to prevent relative movement between the movable armature and stationary portion that is xed to the base.

2. In an electromagnetic contacter, in combination, a base subject to impacts, a pair of members arranged on the base and having aligned openings therein, a movably mounted armature member extending into both openings and guided in the openings to be longitudinally movable in the openings, an electromagnetic coil for moving the armature, one of said pair of members being rigidly secured to the base to thus move with it when said base is subjected to an impact and the other of said pair of members being mounted for movement relative to the base upon subjecting the base to an impact whereby said openings are moved out of alignment to thus bind the movable armature member against 1ongitudinal movement in the openings.

3. In an electromagnetic contacter, in coms bina'tion, a base, a magnetic frame resiliently mounted on the base, said magnetic frame having means for magnetizing the same and a guide opening therein, an armature movable longitudinally in said guide opening, an arc box carrying stationary contact elements fixedly mounted on the base and provided with a guide opening therein, movable contact elements, coacting with the stationary contact elements secured to the armature, longitudinally movable in the guide opening in the arc box, said last named guide opening normally aligned with the guide opening in the magnetic circuit, said base being subject to impacts whereby said guide openings become non-aligned to thus prevent longitudinal movement of the armature during the impact eiect.

4. In an electromagnetic contactor, in combination, a base, a magnetic frame resiliently mounted on the base, said magnetic frame having means for magnetiaing the same and a guide opening therein, an armature movable longitudinally in the guide opening, an arc box carrying stationary contact elements fixedly mounted on the base and provided with a guide opening therein, movable contact elements, coacting with the stationary contact elements secured to the armature, longitudinally movable in the guide opening in the are box, said last named guide opening normally aligned with the guide opening in the magnetic circuit, friction means on the armature adapted to engage the arc box to prevent longitudinal movement of the armature, said base being subject to impacts whereby said guide openings become non-aligned to thus cause said friction means to engage the arc box to thus prevent longitudinal movement of the armature during the impact effect.

5. In an electromagnetic contactor, in combination, a base, a magnetic frame resiliently mounted on the base, said 'magnetic frame having means for magnetizing the same and a guide opening therein, an armature movable longitudinally in said guide opening, an are box carrying stationary contact elements iixedly mounted on the base and provided with a guide opening therein, movable contact elements, coacting with the stationary contact elements secured to the armature, longitudinally movable in the guide opening in the arc box, said last named guide opening normally aligned with the guide opening in the magnetic circuit, friction means on the armature and the arc box respectively adapted to ccact to prevent longitudinal movement of the armature during impact effects on the base.

6. In a contacter, a support, a stationary contact mounted on said support, a movable contact for engagement with said stationary contact, a member carrying said movable Contact mounted for movement with. respect to said support back and forth between positions respectively engaging and disengaging said movable and stationary contacts, and means guiding the movement of said member comprising a part rigidly connected to said support and a part having means resiliently mounting the same on said support, said resilient mounting means being operative to effect relative nio-vement between said parts when said support is subject-ed to impact, relative movement of said parts under impact being operative to engage said member with said rst named part to prevent movement of said member out of the position occupied at the time of impact.

7. In a contacter, a base, a stationary contact, a movable contact, a support for said stationary contact rigidly mounted on said base, an armature connected to said movable contact mounted for movement with respect to said base back and forth between positions engaging and disengaging said contacts, a magnetic frame energizable to effect movement of said armature to at least one of its said positions, means resiliently mounting said frame on said base, guiding parts respectively carried by said frame and said support for guiding the movement of said armature, the lresilient mounting of one of said parts and the rigid mounting of another of said parts being effective to cause relative movement therebetween when said base is subjected to impact, relative movement between said parts under impact being operative to engage said armature and last named part to prevent movement of the armature out of its position occupied at the time of impact.

8. In a contacter, a base, a stationary contact, a movable contact, a support for said stationary contact rigidly mounted on said base, an armature connected to said movable contact mounted for movement with respect to said base back and forth between positions engaging and disengaging said contacts, a magnetic frame energizable to effect movement of said armature to at least one of its said positions, means resiliently mounting said frame on said base, said frame and said support being movable relative to each other when said base is subjected to impact, a latch-like member on said support normally inoperative to interfere with the movement of said armature but engageable therewith to prevent movement of the same upon relative movement of said support and frame due to impact on said base.

9. An operating mechanism, comprising a supporting structure having a member provided with an opening, an inertia member having an opening and being resiliently connected with said structure to thus, because of inertia, not partake in movements of said structure occurring when acceleration above a given value is imparted to said structure, said two members being arranged relative to each other so that said openings are normally aligned with each other but become non-aligned during periods of said movements, and an operating structure extending into said openings and being movable relative thereto in the alignment direction of said openings so as to become locked against movement in said direction when said openings become non-aligned.

10. An operating mechanism, comprising a supporting structure having a member provided with an opening, an inertia member having an opening and being resiliently connected with said structure to thus, because of inertia, not partake in movements of said structure occurring when acceleration above a given value is imparted to said structure, said two members being arranged relative to each other so that said openings are normally aligned with each other but become non-aligned during periods of saidL movements, an operating structure guided in one of said openings and extending into said other opening so as to be movable between two positions in the alignment direction of said openings, locking means having mutually engageable elements integral with said operating structure and the one member having said latter opening so as to enter into locking engagement with each other due to non-alignment of said openings in order to then lock said operating structure in either of said positions.

11. An operating mechanism, comprising a supporting structure having a member provided with an opening, aninertia member having an opening and being movably arranged on said structure to thus, because of its inertia, not partake in movements of said structure occurring when said structure is subjected to acceleration above a given value, said member being arranged relative to each other so that said openings are aligned with each other and hence become non-aligned when said structure is subjected to acceleration of said value, a movable structure guided in said first opening and extending normally freely into said second opening so as to be movable in the alignment direction of said openings when said openings are in alignment, and means disposed on said two structures respectively and engageable with eachother to lock said movable structure against movement in said direction when said openings are not in alignment.

12. An electric contactor, comprising a base, contacts, two members having substantially aligned openings respectively, one of said members being rigidly secured to said base and the other being movable relative to said base and biased to normally maintain a given position relative to said base, a part movable in the alignment direction of said openings for controlling said contacts, said part being guided in the opening of one said members and extending into the opening of the other member and being engageable therewith so as to be prevented from moving in said direction when said biased member moves out of said position due to the application of shock to said base.

13. An electromagnet, comprising a base structure, contacts, a part movable between two positions relative to said base structure to respectively open and close said contacts and being biased for motio-n into one of said positions and electromagnetically operable against its bias to move into said other position, a locking member engageable with said part in either cf said positions to prevent said part from moving out of said respective positions, said part and said member being movable relative to each other into and out of locking engagement and arranged to be normally out of locking engagement, and a ybiasing spring arranged so as to be stressed in opposition to its bias when said part and said element move into locking engagement with each other due to the application of shock to said base structure.

14. An electric switch, comprising a supporting structure having a stationary contact, a part having a movable contact and being movable back and forth between two positions to open and close said contacts respectively, and shockresponsive inertia controlled locking means having a latch member engageable with said part to lock it in either of said positions and being normally disengaged from each other, and biasing spring means arranged on said structure so as to be stressed against its bias when said member and part engage each other due to the application of shock to said structure.

15, An electric switch comprising a supporting structure, contacts, a part movable relative to said structure between two positions to open and close said contacts, latching means for locking said part in one of said positions, and means disposed for controlling the locking operation of said latching means and comprising a member resiliently arranged on said structure t0 be capable of vibratory motion relative to said structure in response to the application of shock force to said structure so as to cause said latch and said part to enter into mutual locking engagement due to vibratory relative motion to prevent movement of said part from said one position.

16. An electric contacter, comprising a supporting structure, a contact carrier movable relative to said structure substantially along a straight path between two positions, contacts secured to said structure and said carrier respectively to be opened and closed in said positions respectively, shock-responsive latching means comprising two relatively movable and mutually engageable elements associated with said carrier and said structure respectively for latching, when mutually engaged, said carrier in either of said positions when said structure is subjected to shock, said elements being normally in disengaged position relative to each other, and biasing spring means disposed so as to be stressed in opposition to its bias when said elements enter into latching engagement due to the application of shock to said structure.

1'?. An electric contacter, comprising a supporting structure having stationary contacts, a carrier provided with movable contacts and being movable relative to said structure between two positions to mutually engage and disengage said stationary and movable contacts, a part attached to said carrier to move together therewith, a latch, said part and said latch being engageable with each other for preventing said carrier to move out of said positions respectively, and inertia controlled means comprising an inertia member for producing relative motion between said part and said latch for engaging them with each other in response to the application of shock on said structure, and spring means disposed between said member and said structure so as to bias said member toward a position relative to said structure in which said part and said latch are disengaged from each other.

WALTER SCHAELCHLIN. DELBERT ELLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,209,281 Gardner Dec. 19, 1916 816,021 Leyner Mar. 27, 1906 814,501 Allen Mar. 6, 1906 1,474,344 Browne Nov. 20, 1923 

